Bell's Palsy
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Bell's Palsy Underlying Cause
Facts about Bell's palsy:
Bell's palsy is caused by inflammation and irritation of the facial nerve.
The cause for this inflammation is not known.
Corticosteroid medications
are used to treat Bell's palsy because they reduce inflammation.
Bell's palsy is also treated with antiviral medication because there is some evidence that a virus might cause inflammation of the facial nerve.
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Bell's Palsy Trusted Sites
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Last Updated: Mar 14, 2008
References
Authors:
Stephen J. Schueler, MD
;
John H. Beckett, MD
;
D. Scott Gettings, MD
Copyright 1989-2008
DSHI Systems, Inc.
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Bell's Palsy References:
Adour KK, Ruboyianes JM, Von Doersten PG, et al: Bell's palsy treatment with acyclovir and prednisone compared with prednisone alone: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1996 May; 105(5): 371-8.
Murakami S, Mizobuchi M, Nakashiro Y, et al: Bell palsy and herpes simplex virus: identification of viral DNA in endoneurial fluid and muscle. Ann Intern Med 1996 Jan 1; 124(1 Pt 1): 27-30.
Piercy J. Bell's palsy. BMJ. 2005 Jun 11;330(7504):1374.
Salinas R. Bell's palsy. Clin Evid. 2003 Dec;(10):1504-7.
Salinas RA, Alvarez G, Ferreira J. Corticosteroids for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004 Oct 18;(4):CD001942.
